Published 11:38 am, Monday, December 24, 2012

Photo: Contributed Photo

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A beluga arrives to check out some holiday music at the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn., earlier this month. The Winter Waterland festivities continue through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. For more information, visit htpp://www.mysticaquarium.org or call 860-572-5955. Contributed photo/Abigail Pheiffer less

A beluga arrives to check out some holiday music at the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn., earlier this month. The Winter Waterland festivities continue through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. For more information, visit ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

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An elf lets his thoughts be known during a Winter Waterland event earlier this month. The festivities continue through Jan. 1, 2013, at the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn. Guests are welcome to check out the holiday decorations, see the exhibitions and greet a few special guests. For more information, call 860-572-5955 or visit http://www.mysticaquarium.org. Contributed photo/Abigail Pheiffer less

An elf lets his thoughts be known during a Winter Waterland event earlier this month. The festivities continue through Jan. 1, 2013, at the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn. Guests are welcome to check out the ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Some visitors to the Mystic Aquarium get close to some white-spotted bamboo sharks. It is just one of the events you will find at the Mystic, Conn., site during the Winter Waterland events running through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. For more information, call 860-572-5955 or visit http://www.mysticaquarium.org. Contributed photo/Abigail Pheiffer less

Some visitors to the Mystic Aquarium get close to some white-spotted bamboo sharks. It is just one of the events you will find at the Mystic, Conn., site during the Winter Waterland events running through ... more

Santa and his elves are not typically known for their underwater skills. But with Christmas over, the active water tanks of the Mystic Aquarium is where you likely will find them.

Mystic Aquarium's "Winter Waterland" event will end a month's worth of celebrations with a concentrated six days of activities from Thursday, Dec. 27, to Tuesday, Jan. 1.

Opportunities abound to create seasonal crafts, enjoy live music from area artists, participate in scavenger hunts and see the diving skills of the denizens of the North Pole as they swim among the fishes (and other creatures).

"They will have white boards on which they can write messages and draw pictures," said Erin Merz, spokeswoman for the aquarium. "People love to take advantage of that for the pictures."

The more familiar, land-based Santa also will be on hand. Families also will be encouraged to check out the holiday decor.

The look of the Christmas trees set throughout the aquarium reflect different habitats. For instance, in the exhibition section known as the Arctic Coast, which houses four beluga whales, the trees have a silver and white theme, complete with snowflakes, icicles and silver ornaments.

The aquarium's outdoor Pacific Northwest habitat, which features sea lions and seals, will have trees filled with pine cones, berries and bird nests. It is here that Merz said visitors can get a glimpse of the aquarium's most recent additions, Northern Fur Seals.

"They are just beautiful," she said. "They are very active and very fun to watch."

There will be other decorations to see, inspired by year-end holidays, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. And, there will be plenty of exhibitions to check out, including "Titanic -- 12,450 Feet Below," which opened in April.

The new feature relied heavily on the information, recollections and documents retrieved by ocean explorer Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreckage of the ship in 1985, and his team. Ballard is founder and president of the Sea Research Foundation's Institute for Exploration. The foundation is the operator of the aquarium.

Aquarium guests also can take a short hop onto the "Polar Express." Billed as a "4-D" experience, the film is based on the children's book by Chris Van Allsburg that was turned into a movie in 2004.

"It is an interactive environment," said Merz.

In addition to the 3-D film, special sensory effects are added, such as the wind and snow and scents, such as hot chocolate.

Merz said the aquarium typically sees an uptick in attendance during the traditional school Christmas vacation break.

"People are still in the holiday spirit," she said.

While in Mystic ...

Mystic Seaport also is presenting some "Holiday Magic," through Tuesday, Jan. 1. Children can make a holiday craft at the Children's Museum. Families can tour the fishing schooner L.A. Dunton. Everyone can attend a historic magic show and learn how to do a few tricks of their own. The events are scheduled, so it's best to check the seaport's website for the daily offerings.

The 19th-century village and exhibitions also will be open, even as guests have a chance to create a keepsake wreath.